The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-01
DYNAMITE ON SHIPBOARD.
Attempt to Blow Up the Coastwise Steamship
Guyandotte-A Number Of Persons Injured.

NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-At 5 o'clock this after
noon the steamship Guyandotte sailed from her
pier in this city for Norfolk, Va. AS the last
bell was ringing previous to the departure of the
vessel, Robert Sinclair, the mess boy. noticed
young man, about twenty five years of age COM
ing hurredlv from the closet-room. The boys
attention was fixed, and he noted that
the stranger had brown mustache and whs-
kers, and that he wore a Derby hat, light brown
overcoat and dark trousers. These observations
were made while the stranger hurried ashore,
and disappeared among knot of persons at the
foot of the gang plank. The steamer, Capt D.
Kelley in command, proceeded on her voyage.
When off Long Branch an explosion occurred il
the after part of the saloon, by which Captain
Kelley and James Justine were slightly injured.
The explosion is believed to have been from
dynamite packed in a satchel that had been left
in the closet-room. Sinclair told the captain of
the stranger who hurried ashore the last bell
was ringing before the steamer sailed, and nat
urally he is regarded as having placed the satchel
containing the explosive. The steamer at once
put about and arrived at her dock at 1890 to-
night The amount of damage to the vessel has
not been learned yet.
The Guyandotte left with a mixed cargo,
though only partly loaded. She carried five sa-
loon and fifteen steerage passengers, with q crew
of fortytwo. At the moment of the explosion
the. captain was IN the pilot-house. The detona-
ton was heard in every part OF the vessel, and
caused much excitement among the crew and
passengers. Captain Kelley at once signaled TO
the engineer to stop, and an investigation was
began. 1t was discovered that hole about if
teen feet square had been caused by the explos-
ion through the main and hurricane decks and
much damage had been done the saloon and
to the outside joiner work on the main deck
The cabin was filled with splinters of timber a
piece of which struck passenger named Kelly
who was in the saloon about sixty feet
from the closet, where the explosion is believed
to have taken place. Kelly severely bruised
upon one knee. James Justine, waiter, was
also. struck by pieces of flying wood, and slight
~ injured. The machinery of the vessel was
found uninjured, but the captain deemed his
vessel in no condition to continue the voyage,
and he put back. The cargo is uninjured
The stranger whom the mess boy saw hurriedlv
leaving the closet where the explosion occurred
is about thrtyfve years old and FIVE feet nine
inches high. Sinclair says he noticed the
stranger some fifteen minutes before he came
from the closet, and he acted though he de-
sired to avoid attention. Then he passed from
Sinclairs observation until he came from
the closet and went down the plank
He the last person to leave tho
vessel before she sailed. Sinclair observed that
the stranger carried satchel when he first saw
him, but that he had none when be left the ship
The belief on board is that the stranger left his
satchel, containing some powerful explosive, in
the closet which is blown to atoms. Captain
Kelley will see no one tonight No person has
been permitted board, and the pier Of the
company is guarded by police.